Two weekends ago, after the bait and switch of a vote on single-payer
for a vote on an anti-abortion amendment, we felt wizened to the
possibility of unknown threats in the legislative churn on health
reform. As insurance and pharmaceutical companies, Catholic bishops,
and the right wing throw in dollars, lobbyists, and pressure for no
votes on the final bill, it is clear we who are in the business of
protecting and improving our rights to access to health care, including
abortion, must remain vigilant and ready to challenge these threats.
Senate Democrats have posted the legislation on their web site.
Senate Democrats made a big step toward comprehensive health care
reform Wednesday night as Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)
unveiled a bill that merges the two plans that passed the health and
finance committees.
With the House having already passed its own bill, Congress is now
closer to achieving health care reform than it has ever been in the six
decades that Democrats have pursued it.
Some Americans will schlep into a local theater to check out Disney's latest 3-D version of "A Christmas Carol." They'll gather up the kids and worry about whether or not it's appropriate viewing or a little too scary for the wee ones.
Other Americans are planning holiday travel and bemoaning the tribulations they'll face in airports or at shopping centers as they buy their way through the traditions of the season.
As the Senate takes up health care reform, we're sure to be treated
to yet more scenes of our elected officials bending over backwards to
kiss the gold-plated butts of the pharmaceutical and insurance
industries. So far, just about every new turn in the health care battle
is confirming what many have known for some time: The US health care
system is run largely for the benefit of these corporate giants, rather
than for the American people, and no piece of legislation is likely to
change that fact.
WASHINGTON - Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid prepared to unveil long-awaited healthcare overhaul legislation on Wednesday, with the first test vote on the package expected by the end of the week.
The healthcare reform bill, President Barack Obama's top domestic priority, has been delayed in the Senate for weeks as Reid waited for cost estimates and searched for an approach that can win the 60 votes needed to overcome Republican procedural hurdles.
The
Obama administration has broadened the scope of what it wants to
dismiss as unrealistic, utopian and unpragmatic, i.e. as for all
practical purposes impossible. These claims have typically been
accompanied by the assurance that “This is not something that Americans
would go for – it’s not the American way.” Obama’s case against a
single payer health care system is a conspicuous case in point. His
position on this issue features weak arguments and serious factual
errors.
The Alleged Impossibility of Universal Health Care
As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) aims this week to secure the votes of moderate Democrats on health care reform, a group of liberal senators Monday warned him not to abandon the public insurance option.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who requested the meeting with Reid, said progressives believe they have compromised enough on the public option - from a Medicare-for-all proposal to Reid's proposal to create a national government plan with a provision for states to opt-out.
Benjamin French was born with his right arm missing below the elbow. In his 12 years, he has been fitted with seven prostheses. His most recent replacement will cost nearly $30,000 and his doctor says he will soon grow out of it.
But, according to his insurance company, the boy is ineligible for further coverage of prosthetic devices because he has already spent his lifetime maximum benefit.
A very complex, mandatory private insurance scheme recently passed the U.S. House. The public is being overwhelmed by sound bites on one hand about how great it is, on the other, how terrible. We are hearing few of the details that are actually in the bill. Having read the bill, it is clear now that what started as health reform has emerged from the political process as health "deform," building on the worst, not the best of the current system.
You know what I don't want to hear right now about the Stupak-Pitts amendment banning abortion coverage from federally subsidised health insurance policies? That it's the price of reform, and pro-choice women should shut up and take one for the team.
